Issues face voters in Tuesday's election

Friday

Nov 2, 2012 at 1:00 PM

A look at the issues

Ruth Carr

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan has predicted that 72 percent of Missouri voters will head to polls for the Nov. 6th general election."During my time in office, we've worked diligently with local election officials to ensure Missourians can have confidence in an election system that is fair, accurate and secure," says Secretary of State Carnahan. "I encourage all eligible Missourians to take the time to vote Tuesday and make their voices heard."Carnahan's office said the number came from compiling turnout predictions from local election authorities. If the number is right, three million of the state's nearly 4.2 million registered voters would cast ballots. The estimate is three percent higher than the actual voter turnout in 2008, which reached 69 percent. While the election is slated for Nov. 6, Missourians are already voting. The deadline to order absentee ballots was Wednesday, though voters can vote absentee in person up until close of business on Monday, Nov. 5.In Randolph County for the August Primary Election, there were 15,604 registered voters and 24 per cent of those persons cast ballots. As usual, polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. at voting places in Randolph County including:Cairo Baptist Church for Cairo, Jacksonville and Levick's Mill; Clark City Hall for Clark;Westran Middle School for Clifton Hill and Thomas Hill;Higbee City Hall for Higbee and Yates; Huntsville First Baptist Church for Huntsville wards 1,2,3,4, and Salt Springs, Mt. Airy and Darksville;Family Life Fellowship Church for North Sugar Creek and Union;Renick School for Renick;Central Christian College of the Bible for South Sugar Creek.Polling places in Moberly are: Jefferson Avenue United Methodist Church for ward 1, precincts 1 and 2;Moberly City Hall for ward 2, pcts.1, ward 3 pct.1;YMCA for ward 2, pct. 2 and 3;Moberly Area Community College Activity Center for ward 3 pcts.2 and 3, andAmerican Legion Hall for ward 4 pct. 1 and 2.Renick will also be voting on "Shall the Village of Renick increase property taxes to 80 cents per $100 of assessed value?"The added revenue will be used to bring the emergency system up to date.Also. Randolph County voters as well as residents of Moberly, Huntsville and Clark will be voting on the local use tax to complement each jurisdictions' existing sales tax.The Randolph County Commission has issued the following statement:This is not a tax increase. This is not a new tax. A local use tax reflects the same rate as the existing sales tax. It is applied in lieu of the local sales tax on certain purchases made out-of –state which are brought across state lines for "use" in Randolph County. The current sales tax in Randolph County is 1.0%; in City of Moberly 2.225%; in Huntsville 1.0%; in Clark 2.0%. The issue of passing a local use tax gained importance following an opinion issued by the Missouri Supreme Court on Jan. 31 of this year. The ruling stated that local sales taxes could no longer be levied on out-of-state purchases of motor vehicles, trailers, motorboats and RVs unless the taxing jurisdiction had passed a "local use tax." The law went into effect on March 21st and besides Randolph County, has affected approximately two-thirds of other Missouri counties where no "local use tax" exists. The Department of Revenue has estimated a 21% loss of revenue for calendar year 2012 for counties and municipalities without a local use tax. Randolph County is estimated to lose approximately $65 thousand dollars, money the county and cities have already budgeted.It is important to note that Missouri does have a state use tax in place. The Missouri Department of Revenue will continue to collect 4.225% on these out-of-state purchases regardless of what Randolph County voters decide. The majority of Randolph County citizens would not be affected by a local use tax. Individuals should pay only if out-of-state items purchased total more than $2000 annually. Local use tax is most commonly paid by construction contractors and businesses purchasing taxable supplies and/or equipment from out-of-state as well as those making large or frequent mail/order internet purchases from out-of-state for items to be used or consumed within the County. Contractors and businesses generally file use tax returns quarterly.According to information distributed by the Missouri Association of Counties in support of this issue, passing a local use tax will restore revenue being lost to out-of –state vehicle purchases; passing a local use tax will help eliminate the unfair economic advantage that those selling across state lines have over hometown merchants; passing a local use take will keep tax dollars in Missouri and help level the playing field for local merchants. Randolph County is not alone in placing a "local use tax" on the ballot. This past June, Dunklin County voters approved a local use tax; in August Osage County voters did the same. In the November election, Randolph County will be joined by Adair, Macon, Saline, Buchanan, Vernon, Sullivan and Mississippi Counties. Another group is planning on placing the issue on the April 2013 ballot.For further information on this upcoming ballot issue, contact your local city or county officials or go to www.moberlychamber.com and scroll down to the "Use Tax" section.Also there is a constitutional amendment on the ballot along with three propositions and an official judicial ballotIn Randolph County, there are races for the office of assessor, sheriff, eastern district commissioner and state representatives.Long-time assessor Richard Tregnago (D), who has served 27 years, is seeking his last term. His opposition is J. Kevin Stone , a Republican.Incumbent sheriff Mark Nichols, who has served in that office for eight years and been in law enforcement many more years, is seeking another term. Also wanting the office of sheriff are Michael Fugate and David Magruder, both on the Independent ticket. They filed as write-ins after the deadline had past.For eastern district commissioner, incumbent Republican Robert Wayne Wilcox is seeking another term. Democrat Donald Hughes Jr., who just retired from the Randolph County Juvenile Office as chief deputy, is the candidate on the Democrat ticket.Running without opposition are:Circuit Judge Scott A . Hayes, western district commissioner Jerry Crutchfield; public administrator Mary Jo Colley and coroner Gerald Luntsford. Randolph countians will also be voting on four representatives.In District 6, Diana J. Scott and Tim Remole are the candidates. Scott is a Democrat from LaPLata and Remole, a Republican from Excello.Ken Jacob is the Democratic candidate for District 44 representative while Caleb Rowden is seeking the post as a Republican.For the 47th District, Democrat John A. Wright and Republican Mitch Richards, both of Columbia, are seeking the post in Jefferson City. Those in District 48 will choose between Democrat Ron Monnig and Republican Dave Muntzel.For U. S. representative, District 4, Teresa Hensley is the Democratic candidate; Vicky Hartzler, Republican; Thomas Holbrook, Libertarian, and Greg Cowan, Constitutional candidate.Three persons are vying for the attorney general post in Missouri. Chris Koster is the Democrat candidate; Ed Martin, Republican, and Dave Browning, Libertarian.For state treasurer, candidates are : Clint Zweifel, Democrat; Cole McNary, Republican, and Sean O'Toole, Libertarian.Four persons are running for secretary of state to succeed Robin Carnahan, who is not seeking re-election. They are: Democrat Jason Kinder, Republican Shane Schoeller, Libertarian Cisse E. Spragins, and Constitutional Justin Harter.Lt. governor candidates are: Democrat Susan Montee, Republican Peter Kinder; Libertarian Matthew Copple and Constitution Cynthia L. Davis.Incumbent Gov. Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon, a Democrat, is seeking re-election. Other candidates are Republican David (Dave) Spence and Libertarian Kim Higgins.For U. S. Senator, Claire McCaskill, incumbent, is seeking the office again on the Democratic ticket, with opposition from Republican Todd Akin and Libertarian Jonathan Dine.Also, Randolph Countians will have the opportunity to vote for president and vice president including:Democrats—Barack Obama and Joe Biden;Republicans—Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan;Libertarian—Gary Johnson and James P. Gay, and;Constitution—Virgil Goode and Jim Clymer.